What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
The immigrant vote has long been an apparently insoluble conundrum for the GOP. We've discussed Latinos, many of whom, despite holding conservative views, voted for Obama over McCain by a margin of more than two-to-one in 2008. We've also talked about how closely Asians are aligned with Republicans on a number of issues, but nevertheless vote Democrat (62% of the Asian vote went to Obama in 2008).
Over the past decade, Canada's Tories have faced a similar challenge in trying to figure out how to appeal to the large and growing immigrant voter bloc in some of the country's most populated (and therefore most crucial for an electoral victory) metropolitan areas. One welcome surprise that emerged from Canada's recent electoral shakeup is the degree of success that Conservatives achieved among immigrant voters. Here's how they did it:
- Conservatives established connections with immigrant voters
In one day during the 2011 election campaign, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney attended 15 different chai parties hosted by Indo-Canadian voters in Brampton West, Ont. That’s just a snapshot of his epic cross-Canada campaigning, but it’s indicative of the stamina and persistence of the Conservative point man for ethnic communities.
He and Prime Minister Stephen Harper have transformed their party from one that was perceived as hostile to new Canadians to one that is now home to a great many immigrant voters and Members of Parliament.
- Conservatives listened to and engaged with the leaders of immigrant communities in order to create a "constituency of askers"
The transformation of the Conservative party began in 2006 when Mr. Kenney embarked on a cross-country listening tour, engaging ethnic community leaders who previously felt repelled by the party. He asked what government could do for them. Then he initiated a series of symbolic gestures designed to build relationships, such as the apology for the Chinese Head Tax and cutting the immigrant landing fee.
A Conservative source said there was a deliberate strategy to deliver on the issues that mattered to these communities, but not instantly. That way they could create a constituency of “askers,” motivated leaders who could be converted to supporters.
- Conservatives communicated their core platform in the native tongues of their target immigrant voters
“People tend to forget that the main appeal isn’t on … community-specific issues. It’s based on the core platform,” Mr. Kenney said. “If you look at the ads we ran in Mandarin, Punjabi and Cantonese, it’s exactly that. Vote your values.”
And the results?
The Conservative majority was won primarily in the suburban ridings of the 905 area code and in the City of Toronto. Of the 18 seats they gained in that region, 14 are more than 45 per cent immigrant, and most would not long ago have been considered un-winnable for the Conservatives.
...The party also swept all four ridings in Brampton, which have large South Asian populations.
Go out and meet constituents from immigrant communities? Listen to their concerns? Produce a few targeted ads in the native languages of immigrant constituencies? It all sounds so simple, so trite, so...corny. But could it work for the GOP?
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Jul '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
The transformation of the Conservative party began in 2006 when Mr. Kenney embarked on a cross-country listening tour, engaging ethnic community leaders who previously felt repelled by the party. He asked what government could do for them. Then he initiated a series of symbolic gestures designed to build relationships, such as the apology for the Chinese Head Tax and cutting the immigrant landing fee.
A Conservative source said there was a deliberate strategy to deliver on the issues that mattered to these communities, but not instantly. That way they could create a constituency of “askers,” motivated leaders who could be converted to supporters.
In other words, they bought off the immigrant "communities". That's not conservatism, it's a bidding war.
Edited on May 10, 2011 at 11:44pmRe: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Kenneth: The transformation of the Conservative party began in 2006 when Mr. Kenney embarked on a cross-country listening tour, engaging ethnic community leaders who previously felt repelled by the party. He asked what government could do for them. Then he initiated a series of symbolic gestures designed to build relationships, such as the apology for the Chinese Head Tax and cutting the immigrant landing fee.
A Conservative source said there was a deliberate strategy to deliver on the issues that mattered to these communities, but not instantly. That way they could create a constituency of “askers,” motivated leaders who could be converted to supporters.
In other words, they bought off the immigrant "communities". That's not conservatism, it's a bidding war. · May 10 at 2:43pm
Dare I suggest that to attract the votes of the Ricochet community, a candidate would have to "deliver on the issues that matter to [this] community"? These would include, but not be limited to, economic freedom, low taxation, lower spending, a commitment to repeal Obamacare, etc.
Would that constitute a bidding war?
Jul '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Kenneth: The transformation of the Conservative party began in 2006 when Mr. Kenney embarked on a cross-country listening tour, engaging ethnic community leaders who previously felt repelled by the party. He asked what government could do for them. Then he initiated a series of symbolic gestures designed to build relationships, such as the apology for the Chinese Head Tax and cutting the immigrant landing fee.
A Conservative source said there was a deliberate strategy to deliver on the issues that mattered to these communities, but not instantly. That way they could create a constituency of “askers,” motivated leaders who could be converted to supporters.
In other words, they bought off the immigrant "communities". That's not conservatism, it's a bidding war. · May 10 at 2:43pm
Dare I suggest that to attract the votes of the Ricochet community, a candidate would have to "deliver on the issues that matter to [this] community"? These would include, but not be limited to, economic freedom, low taxation, lower spending, a commitment to repeal Obamacare, etc.
Would that constitute a bidding war? · May 10 at 2:52pm
No, We're not asking for cash benefits or special preferences.
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
I don't see anything wrong with this. I wouldn't object if conservative representatives here in the States engaged with business owners to ask what government could do for them. I'm pretty sure some answers would include requests to eliminate the red tape that makes starting a business difficult, lowering the costs of doing business whether in lower business taxes or in licensing fees or in worker's comp fees, etc.
Mar '11
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Kenneth's right, it is a bidding war. As a small-c conservative, it horrifies me. As a big-C conservative, I know it's just how the game is played in Canada. The Liberal Party mastered it decades before; I know people who have voted Liberal for 50+ years because a Liberal clapped them on the shoulder years ago and said "Welcome to the country, if there's anything we can do to help, just drop by the office."
However, if the Tories can build alliances based on small-c conservative values like personal responsibility, economic freedom, etc., so much the better.
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
If we were to nominate Marco Rubio as our Vice-Presidential nominee and win, and then if we sent him to speak in Spanish to every Hispanic organization in the country, something big might happen.
Similarly, if we were to nominate Herman Cain or Allen West, . . .
May '11
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
It's a favorite guffaw of the Left that populist rhetoric from certain conservative spokespeople alienates large groups of immigrant voters who'd otherwise share their values. If a voter feels a party is inherently hostile to them and their social group, they'll either turn to the other side or stay home on election day.
And frankly, attracting votes is a kind of bidding war, no matter how principled we'd prefer it to be. Everyone has their own interests and will vote for whoever serves them best.
Aug '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Notwithstanding the fact that there are obviously group differences in voting behavior, I absolutely hate discussions about voting "blocks" based upon demographic breakdowns. I still bitterly cling to treating people as unique individuals. I would never make it as a political consultant.
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
I understand your distaste. There's something very sinister about talking about people as parts of various herds. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with identifying with a particular community. And the flip side of that is figuring out how to appeal to these communities.
Dec '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Paul A. Rahe: If we were to nominate Marco Rubio as our Vice-Presidential nominee and win, and then if we sent him to speak in Spanish to every Hispanic organization in the country, something big might happen.
Similarly, if we were to nominate Herman Cain or Allen West, . . . · May 10 at 3:17pm
You overestimate the power of consanguinity.
Rubio's appeal to "Hispanics" is especially suspect: he's the son of Cuban immigrants. Cubans are the one group of Hispanics who can cross the US border without papers and be welcomed with open arms; that doesn't foster brotherly feelings. Not to mention that "Hispanic" is a catch-all for dozens of nationalities and ethnicities. Some Hispanics hearing Rubio speaking Spanish would respond, "¿Cómo? ¿Qué?"
As for West or Cain causing African-Americans to suddenly see the light about the GOP, ask how many were awakened by Condie Rice ascending to the highest Cabinet rank. Even Colin Powell himself demonstrated that the pull of race goes one way across party lines: apparently a good Black Republican should vote for a Black Democrat, and a good Black Democrat should vote for a Democrat regardless of color.
May '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
For Pete's sake. With what are conservatives to pander to immigrants with? More quotas and set asides? Even laxer immigration policies?
Edited on May 11, 2011 at 12:48amDec '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Diane Ellis, Ed.
I understand your distaste. There's something very sinister about talking about people as parts of various herds. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with identifying with a particular community. And the flip side of that is figuring out how to appeal to these communities. · May 10 at 3:37pm
Sometimes communities aren't all that communal.
A joke to illustrate the futility of assuming common bonds based on a single ethnic characteristic:
A rescue ship comes up on two castaways on a desert island who've been there for years. There are three buildings on the island. The ship captain asks, "What's that one?"
Goldman says, "That's my synagogue."
"And what's that one?"
Feldman says, "That's my synagogue."
The Captain, puzzled, asks, "So what's the third one?"
Goldman and Feldman answer in unison: "That's the synagogue neither of us would be caught dead in!"
Oct '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Mesquito, yeah but I don't think those things really matter to immigrants. I think they care about getting ahead in life, and that's where classical liberalism comes in. Classical liberalism's historical superiority to the Democratic party's feel-good vote-buying schemes is absolute.
Classical liberalism is all about benefiting the average person at the expense of elite power, instead of this obscene buy-off-minority-elites-and-ignore-the-rest strategy the Democrats have.
May '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
My mum immigrated in 1954. Her first few weeks she hung in Little Norway in Brooklyn listening to maudlin gripes about the The Old Country and The New. Shortly she decided to get on with the business of becoming an American. Thank God she did.
Really, we don't need conservatives pols cutting deals with self-appointed immigrant leaders. They just need to stand for conservative values, which immigrants understand well enough, unless they've recently arrived from Europe.
Jun '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Reaching out to different ethnic communities by listening to their concerns and espousing conservative free market and individual responbility solutions to their problems is not buying votes. It is sharing ideas and ideals. Conservatism works for all people, not just Anglos. These people came to the USA because of our greatness as a nation. That greatness was born with our founding fathers and our Constitution. People know they came here for a better life. Teaching them why this country affords a better life can only work to our benefit. I think this is not only a wonderful idea, but not doing it will surely lead to our demise. Good post, Dianne.
May '11
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Paul A. Rahe: If we were to nominate Marco Rubio as our Vice-Presidential nominee and win, and then if we sent him to speak in Spanish to every Hispanic organization in the country, something big might happen.
Similarly, if we were to nominate Herman Cain or Allen West, . . . · May 10 at 3:17pm
Even if we don't put Rubio on the ticket, he can still have an effect. Florida's a big swing state with a lot of Hispanics. Maybe an endorsement from him would be enough to put him over the top there. Meanwhile, New Mexico just elected a Hispanic Governor who could help similarly, and I'm pretty sure Sandoval in Nevada is part Hispanic.
Jun '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
As an addendum to my previous post...most immigrants come here from places where governments are feared. They are entities that take from people and hurt people. Immigrants have an inner distrust of governments and should be natural allies of conservatism. If we enter their neighborhoods and share the reality of asking for government solutions only creates larger and more powerful government, which is what they came here to escape, well that message could resonate.
Jan '11
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
This is a very necessary topic. I don't think we should ever get into any kind of pandering/bidding war with the left. Focus on values. Think about the variety of people & opinions here on Ricochet - a pretty diverse group of people that share common values. Appeal to those minority business owners by focusing on governmental red tape, compliance costs and taxes. Dennis Prager had some great appeals to Mexican immigrants by likening the PRI to the Democrats (these people advocate for what you've left behind).
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Beautifully stated.
Dec '10
Re: What the GOP Can Learn From the Tories' Success
Just remember, there is an "Hispanic" Bush moving up in the next generation of politicos and he will be a pandering death-knell to conservatism.
Leave Rubio alone; we need him here, in Florida. Also leave West alone, for the same reason. Go find your own, token, heroes while you contemplate what Dianne was actually saying, that we need to listen to some more people and find common ground.
And listen to no people, be they Hispanic, Asian, or people that follow Islam, that place their ethnicity or creed above American values. I speak several languages, but communism and religious dogma sound the same in all of them.